Inheriting a house but still claiming income support

margaretclare

There was a similar case recently in this area, a man had inherited his mother's house and he continued claiming. He was prosecuted for benefit fraud.

This must be happening fairly frequently, because the case was reported in the local paper and then highlighted in the local council's newsletter. It was pointed out, in words of one syllable, that this is fraud and it affects us all, the rest of the poor bl***y taxpayers!

Couple of years ago, I 'shopped' someone who inherited her father's house because I knew she was claiming pension credit. I'd do it to anybody. You can do it anonymously on a website.

Margaret

beckett110

I think I'll just keep an eye on if the house goes on the market although Im tempted to get my wife to have a word with her to point out what she has got to lose after all she has her own home and will never need to get a mortgage.

seven-day-weekend

It might be better to have a quick word - surely that is better for everyone(including her) if it stops her committing benefit fraud?

thesaint

Mumstheword wrote:

Hi,

No, I've re read and he didnt actually say that. i took it as implied though.

he has however confirmed my suspicions later on.

What this misunderstanding goes to show is that people can and do read/hear something that was not actually said.

This could equally be the case in question.

Mumstheword

thesaint wrote:

What this misunderstanding goes to show is that people can and do read/hear something that was not actually said.

This could equally be the case in question.

Of course it could, but that's a different topic.


What I think most of us are discussing here is - if you knew someone was intending to commit benefit fraud, what should you do?

margaretclare

Mumstheword wrote:

What I think most of us are discussing here is - if you knew someone was intending to commit benefit fraud, what should you do?

Shop them. Certainly if it was something as valuable as a house.

A single mum who was earning a few pounds a week cleaning in a pub or something - I wouldn't do it for that. But the amount of money she could get from selling the house, even with CGT paid - I'd shop her, no question at all.

'Having a quiet word' might not be such a good idea. You'd leave yourself open to a mouthful of abuse.

Margaret

seven-day-weekend

margaretclare wrote:

Shop them. Certainly if it was something as valuable as a house.

A single mum who was earning a few pounds a week cleaning in a pub or something - I wouldn't do it for that. But the amount of money she could get from selling the house, even with CGT paid - I'd shop her, no question at all.

'Having a quiet word' might not be such a good idea. You'd leave yourself open to a mouthful of abuse.

Margaret

I don't think there would be any point in shopping them unless they had actually committed fraud, which they have not as yet.

The crime is the same whether it's earning a few pounds cleaning in a pub (if it's more than the allowed amount), or getting thousands from selling your house....both are benefit fraud. No difference. Neither person would be entitled to their benefit. So I don't think we should make that distinction.

As for the quiet word....well surely prevention is better than punishment....and it doesn't actually have to be YOU that shops them.

Mumstheword

The trouble with a quiet word which is ignored, is that it makes it quite clear that you are the one who reported them.

In cases of benefit fraud, the fraudsters are (huge generalisation warning....) not often the type of people who would react in a civilised way and so letting them know it's you who shopped them could make for a very difficult life afterwards.

It would be nice if there was a system of 'having a little word' which was anonymous, but gave fraudsters a warning that their best move would be to own up now!

Scarlett1

beckett110 wrote:

One of my neighbours father has recently died and has inherited his house which is fully owned but one thing that annoys me is that apparantly she is planning on selling the house and putting the money in her sons bank account which she can still access. She is a single parent on income support so she gets things like rent and council tax paid for her. Is it legal to have this money in a childs bank account whilst still living off the money herself?

you could advise her that she has to declare all accounts when receiving benefits and she cant stash money in a childs account as that money is still regarded as hers, if they do a spot check on her she will be in serious trouble, she can only have £6,000 in savings to be entitled to income support, and £12,000 to be able to receive maximum housing benefit.

seven-day-weekend

Mumstheword wrote:

The trouble with a quiet word which is ignored, is that it makes it quite clear that you are the one who reported them.

!

But it doesn't have to be you that shops them.

Mr X has a 'word'. Ms Y shops them if the 'word' is ignored. Then Mr X can say hand on heart that it wasn't him who shopped them.